Biggest mistake I ever made in my life was to go thru all the preliminary stuff, tests, talking to recruiters, career days, hanging out at the recruiters once in a while and then decided not to go thru with it at all. I went to college instead for something that I thought I would like because that's where the money was at the time. Ended up dropping out, working crap jobs, two divorces, and going back to school. Got a degree that is basically worthless because the school was thru a state job agency that had a contract to help displaced workers and all they did was take the state's money and give us nothing. Out of 22 people none got employment in the field.
My son on the other hand went in under delayed entry. Air Force. He is now in Monterrey at language school and has unlimited options open to him once he is done. I have never been more proud of him than when I saw him walk out onto that parade ground at Lackland and take his final oath. He went in as a typical teenager. Pants around the crack of his butt, unless I was around then he did not dare look like a slob, shuffling walk, if he wore a hat it was on crooked, and all that stuff that makes kids look like doped up lazy bums. After 7 weeks of basic he was turned into a different person. The slouch was gone, he walked upright like a man, the clothes had creases you could get cut on they were so sharp, but the biggest change was in attitude. Yeah he had that little swagger like don't mess with me but it was tempered with respect and authority. Walking around San Antonio with him and seeing not just him, but all these young men, treated with respect and seeing them return it by opening doors for strangers, addressing waitresses no older than them as "mam", responding to questions with yes Sir, No Sir, Yes mam, No mam, was remarkable. And then there were other things like watching a cute girl with some kid dressed like one of these hiphop bums walk away from him and start hitting on my son was WAAY Cool! His education is tough, there is alot of mental work, but he loves it. He's in Reno Nevada this weekend at a buddy's house for thanksgiving. He could not afford to come home for this, but will be for Christmas. He's getting an education worth over about 1/4 million dollars and getting paid to go. My ex and I could have never afforded this. He is serving his country, his God, all of us, and himself. You may have various reasons for not wanting to go. I don't know what they are and frankly don't care. But you made a commitment and now is the time to keep it. Otherwise it may very well turn into a pattern of breaking promises and resulting in a feeling down in your gut that will not be pleasant. I believe that every 18 yr old should at the very least go thru basic with no exceptions or deferrals other than physical or severe mental disabilities. Want to go to college? Fine but go to boot camp for 8 weeks first and learn how to be an adult. This goes for females as well. There would be less street violence, crime, and less general degrading of society as a whole. Before you say no to the navy think real hard about the alternative. A job at 10 or 12 bucks an hour that you hate with no promotions, lousy benefits and no respect from management. Or waste mom and dad's money going to college where the first semester will be spent getting loaded.
Suck it up, hold your head high and go to the service. If you don't want to be a diver fine, there are hundreds of other jobs. But don't make a decision you will regret for the rest of your life. Be proud of serving your country or don't expect anything from it.
My son on the other hand went in under delayed entry. Air Force. He is now in Monterrey at language school and has unlimited options open to him once he is done. I have never been more proud of him than when I saw him walk out onto that parade ground at Lackland and take his final oath. He went in as a typical teenager. Pants around the crack of his butt, unless I was around then he did not dare look like a slob, shuffling walk, if he wore a hat it was on crooked, and all that stuff that makes kids look like doped up lazy bums. After 7 weeks of basic he was turned into a different person. The slouch was gone, he walked upright like a man, the clothes had creases you could get cut on they were so sharp, but the biggest change was in attitude. Yeah he had that little swagger like don't mess with me but it was tempered with respect and authority. Walking around San Antonio with him and seeing not just him, but all these young men, treated with respect and seeing them return it by opening doors for strangers, addressing waitresses no older than them as "mam", responding to questions with yes Sir, No Sir, Yes mam, No mam, was remarkable. And then there were other things like watching a cute girl with some kid dressed like one of these hiphop bums walk away from him and start hitting on my son was WAAY Cool! His education is tough, there is alot of mental work, but he loves it. He's in Reno Nevada this weekend at a buddy's house for thanksgiving. He could not afford to come home for this, but will be for Christmas. He's getting an education worth over about 1/4 million dollars and getting paid to go. My ex and I could have never afforded this. He is serving his country, his God, all of us, and himself. You may have various reasons for not wanting to go. I don't know what they are and frankly don't care. But you made a commitment and now is the time to keep it. Otherwise it may very well turn into a pattern of breaking promises and resulting in a feeling down in your gut that will not be pleasant. I believe that every 18 yr old should at the very least go thru basic with no exceptions or deferrals other than physical or severe mental disabilities. Want to go to college? Fine but go to boot camp for 8 weeks first and learn how to be an adult. This goes for females as well. There would be less street violence, crime, and less general degrading of society as a whole. Before you say no to the navy think real hard about the alternative. A job at 10 or 12 bucks an hour that you hate with no promotions, lousy benefits and no respect from management. Or waste mom and dad's money going to college where the first semester will be spent getting loaded.
Suck it up, hold your head high and go to the service. If you don't want to be a diver fine, there are hundreds of other jobs. But don't make a decision you will regret for the rest of your life. Be proud of serving your country or don't expect anything from it.
